December and a look back at my highlights.
End of 2020.
A Quiet November for me.
Due to working in the studio nearly every day, November was a quiet time for me birding or recording stuff. The weather had a big effect on being able to put the moth trap out, some nights when I did put it out I trapped nothing!! But not to be disheartened, I did get 2 moth species that I had been hoping for and new for the garden list....Feathered Thorn and December Moth. Maybe if I am lucky I will get the trap out in December in the hope of something on the wing I still need, but as it stands my 2020 Macro list stands at 211 species, easily beating last years tally.
Feathered ThornDecember Moth
Now onto birding and busily working away, my main viewing came from the dog walking, Sarah and I were seeing a lot more Pink footed geese passing over as of late, one morning we watched 400+ geese pass overhead, a lovely sight and sound to start the day. The flocks of birds were on the rise locally, the Linnets were increasing in numbers as were the Yellowhammers, Reed Bunting were still around no doubt but they were keeping further afield. Blackbirds were still arriving in the area, some mornings along the lanes that is all you could see flitting along ahead of us. Woodcock were flushed on the walks too.
Hopefully I can get out more during December.
Stunning Leaf Gems steal the month
Anticipation was high for October, surely there would be some nice birding on the patch and hopefully new moth species for the garden entering autumn.
The weather was a mixed bag at the start of the month but the wind conditions and rain added to bringing birds in. Groups of birds were already starting to move along the coast, siskins were still heading through but in smaller groups than before. On the 3rd 15+ Brambling landed in a tree behind the back garden before heading off south over the house, a big fall of birds continued throughout the day with good numbers of Song Thrush, Blackcaps and Robins, near the clifftop I saw a single Hawfinch with chaffinches, Redwings were starting to increase and a Willow Warbler feeding in the ivy clad bushes. The next day, 4th Oct, numbers of thrushes were still coming in off the sea, 18+ House Martins, a couple of Swallows and Hobby passed along the cliffs, Blackcaps were dotted everywhere and a few Grey Herons were the first of a few to be seen passing over.
A Fieldfare makes it to the safety of the scrub and bushes, narrowly avoiding the pursuing Herring gull.
Groups of birds were still heading in over the coastline, these Starlings at least avoided the gulls below.
3 Velvet Scoter close in was a lovely addition to the tally of birds passing.
Once downed in the water they had no hope unfortunately.
There were lots of Blackbirds present along the lane hedgerows and nearby paddocks.
I noticed goldfinches coming to a puddle to drink and bathe, then joined by Goldcrest drinking, my attention was drawn to the puddle now and then to a few Goldcrests feeding in a nearby sycamore tree, such a lovely dainty little bird and a challenge to get a nice photograph before they flit off out of the camera view!
I managed to grab a couple of shots which were okay, it was at this point that whilst watching 3+ goldcrests flitting around in the tree my eyes came across a tiny warbler......straight away I knew what this was and panic set in to follow it feeding, I had to get a photo of this self found stunner......a Pallas's Warbler.